Photo By Thomas Perry | Jami Zanetta, WorkLife and wellness/fitness coordinator, and Shelley Sloss,...... read more read more
Subscribe
FORT LEE, Va. - The Defense Contract Management Agency recently finished first among medium-sized Department of Defense sub-agencies and third overall with a score of 213 in a U.S. Office of Personnel Management WellCheck.
According to OPM, WellCheck is an evidence-based tool that helps agencies determine how effective their worksite health and wellness programs are in developing a healthy workforce. The recent WellCheck measured 131 evidence-based workplace strategies that impact health and wellness.
“I was glad to see our program rate highly,” said Debbie Mitchell, Labor Employee Relations director. “The results provide confirmation that we are providing a quality, comprehensive wellness program, but it also provides us with ideas on how to make some program improvements that we might not have otherwise considered.”
Mitchell, who began working for DCMA’s Human Capital Directorate in 2009, attributed much of the program’s success to its coordinator. “The program has blossomed under the management of Jami Zanetta. She makes sure the program supports our director’s priorities — whether that is watching out for your ‘wingman’ or providing resources to aid in suicide prevention and resiliency.”
While acknowledging she too was excited by the results and their possible impact on future planning, Zanetta identified some of the program’s major successes. “Our top strengths included the free flu vaccinations, weight management resources, the online wellness portal and the free tobacco cessation program,” said the agency’s WorkLife and wellness/witness coordinator. “We plan to continue providing all of these great services and will work tirelessly to continue ensuring employees are aware of the programs and able to access them easily.”
Zanetta’s partner in fitness, Shelley Sloss, a wellness/fitness specialist with the agency, explained why employee program access and understanding is so important.
“A few months ago, a team member requested assistance with finding a good physician in her area to accommodate her son’s special needs,” Sloss said. “I was able to connect her with our WorkLife program, and they helped her locate a physician very close to her residence.”
Wanting to know if everything worked out, Sloss followed up with the employee. The boy’s mother explained what a huge help the WorkLife team members were, and how much stress and anxiety their assistance prevented.
“Being able to assist DCMA team members with all areas of health and wellness is very important to me,” Sloss said. “Too often, we can quickly become overwhelmed with daily life activities. Leading people to a healthier lifestyle — whether through physical activity, nutrition, stress management or in any other area of wellness — is one of the most profound feelings in the world.”
The WellCheck reinforces the government’s commitment identified in the June 2014 Presidential Memorandum on Enhancing Workplace Flexibilities and WorkLife Programs. According to the memorandum, in order to attract, empower and retain a talented and productive workforce in the 21st century, the federal government must continue to make progress in enabling employees to balance their responsibilities at work and at home.
“Working for DoD has many rewards but there have also been challenges in recent years,” Mitchell said. “The pressure to be resource efficient and mission relevant can lead to higher stress and multi-tasking. Since employees spend the majority of their time at work, if we really want employees to embrace wellness, we need to offer the program through work. Employees who are focused on improving their wellness and work-life balance are healthier, more engaged and more likely to stay with DCMA.”
Zanetta and Sloss are hoping the WellCheck will serve as a springboard toward team member wellness knowledge and usage. As more people use the programs, the pair hope that employees will take the time to provide feedback through email or the program’s customer satisfaction survey, so that team members input can be put into action.
“DCMA’s most important resource is its employees,” Mitchell said. “That is why the leadership has established a work-life program that provides services to support employees’ personal and family well-being. If you are not already actively participating in the wellness program, I encourage you to visit DCMA 360’s HC Virtual Fitness and HC WorkLife websites to learn more about what the program has to offer. It’s a new year — make 2016 the year you focus on your wellness.”
| Date Taken: | 01.19.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 01.19.2016 11:08 |
| Story ID: | 186517 |
| Location: | FORT LEE, VA, US |
| Web Views: | 227 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, OPM pegs DCMA as elite health, wellness performer, by Thomas Perry, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT